Executive Team

Dr. Conny Lin

Executive Director | Co-Founder
​PhD. in Neuroscience

Dr. Conny Lin is a neuroscientist, a data scientist, and an entrepreneur. She is currently working as a Development Manager at the Electronic Arts. Prior to this, she has worked in a wide varieties of industries and positions, including Medical Science Liaison at AbbVie, Policy & Legislation Analyst at the College of Pharmacists of BC, Data Analytics Lead at the Ludares Games, Reserach Program Manager at the Rosetta Stone, and Science Policy Fellow at the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Health. Dr. Lin is more than a multitalented professional. She strives to work for causes she passionately believes in and thus, has led several initiatives. She founded three non-profit organizations and three for-profit companies. She worked collaboratively to launch the 3 Minutes Thesis competition in Canada. Additionally, she served as the President of UBC Graduate Student Society in 2012-13, represented Canadian graduate students in Canada-China Graduate Council in Cheng-du, China, and ran for Member of Legislative Assembly in the 2017 BC Provincial Election.

Since 2012, Dr. Lin has been passionate about helping people with graduate degrees find their career paths outside of academia. She has 10+ years of human resources experience and is frequently invited to career talks and panels to share her career experiences and advice. Seeing the need in this space, Dr. Lin created the HirePhD. Career Society and the signature Alternative Career Paths Success Stories (ACPSS) series to help people with advanced degrees diversify their career horizon.​

Dr. Momoko Ueda

Director of Operations, Data Science & Automation | Co-Founder
PhD. in Forensic Sciences

Dr. Momoko Ueda is currently working as a Data Scientist at Pyrra Technologies that provides an online platform for researchers and security professionals to monitor and detect threatening activities on alternative social media sites. She previously worked at the International Cybercrime Research Centre as a Data Science Consultant and has also contributed to a project on private security for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. She obtained her PhD from Simon Fraser University in Criminology (Forensic Science), and her research focused on assessing the predictability of existing models that utilize stable isotopes in human tissues to predict the geographical origin of unidentified individuals. During her PhD studies, she underwent transitional justice training in Peru with the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology Team. She also served as the VP of Technology at Science & Policy Exchange (2021-2022), as a team lead for conference survey data analysis at the Canadian Science Policy Centre (2021) and was a governance committee member for the graduate student society at Simon Fraser University.
​
A 2021 report, published by the Council of Canadian Academies, highlighted the challenges that PhD graduates face as they transition into non-academic careers. Most PhDs end up in non-academic careers, but graduate students often lack the support they need to navigate this transition. Understanding that most graduate students find jobs outside of academia, Dr. Ueda wanted to create a place where graduate students and PhDs can share job search resources and support each other through the career exploration journey.
​

Dr. Tong Li

Director of Talent Management, People & Culture
PhD. in Chemistry

Dr. Tong Li is a material innovator and a scientist entrepreneur. She graduated from University of Victoria as a Ph.D. in Chemistry and received MBA certificate from an entrepreneur training program (i2I) at Beedie School of Business in Simon Fraser University. She co-founded a start up - Poly V Technology Inc. in 2021, where she brings the novel material she co-invented during her PhD to the market. Since 2016, Dr. Tong Li started her journey as a teaching assistant and a mentor. She taught many undergrad students and mentored several young scientists. She served in “Women In Science” organization as a mentor and influenced next generation female scientists. She believes a mentorship for young talented individuals is necessary and valuable. Her experience as a product line manager in new energy industry, a postdoc fellow in University of British Columbia and a new material developer in bio-sensor field make her start thinking that: PhD can do multiple things out of academia. HirePhD is dedicated to help talents with advanced degrees to build their successful career path. Dr. Li found this perfectly aligns with her vision. So she joined HirePhD in 2023 to help the community.

Dr. Gavin Connolly

Director of Communications
PhD. in Nutrition Science​

Gavin Connolly is currently a Postdoctoral Scientist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he conducts clinical trials related to diabetes, sarcopenia, frailty, and the biology of aging. Gavin obtained a dual PhD in Nutrition Science and Gerontology from Purdue University, an MSc in Exercise Physiology from Central Michigan University, and a BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences from the University of Limerick, Ireland. Gavin also obtained two teaching degrees from Purdue University and received three teaching awards. In addition, he has held leadership positions on the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Community Outreach Committee, the Nutrition Science Graduate Student Organization, and the Center on Aging and the Life Course Steering Committee.
​
Gavin has a passion for science communication, educating others, and the personal and professional development of himself and others. The vast majority of people with graduate degrees end up in careers outside of academia. However, Gavin recognized that tertiary educational institutes generally do not adequately educate graduate students on the challenges and prospects of a career in academia, or adequately educate and prepare graduate students for the vast array of careers available to them outside of academia that their skills can be applied to. Gavin joined HirePhD to help inform and increase awareness of careers outside of academia for those with graduate degrees, to help those with graduate degrees navigate career paths and transition from academia to non-academic careers, and build a community of people with graduate degrees to connect with and support one another.
Dr. Victoria Sid
​Associate Director of Communications
PhD. in Physiology and Pathophysiology
​Victoria Sid is a research scientist with over a decade of hands-on experience in preclinical biomedical research and five years dedicated to industrial research. She obtained a PhD in Physiology and Pathophysiology in 2018 from the University of Manitoba. After she graduated, she worked as a Research Associate at SciMar, a Manitoba bioscience company that focuses on research in the area of type 2 diabetes. In 2022, she was promoted to Scientific Research Coordinator. In this role, she was the leader of strategic planning for the preclinical research unit and responsible for identifying opportunities and trends for new research projects.
​
Dr. Sid has a keen interest in the realm of medical writing and communications. Her goal is to transition into a career focused on medical writing, leveraging her expertise and passion for scientific communication. She joined HirePhD to help write and source relevant grants aimed at funding programs to support graduates with advanced degrees navigate career paths outside of academia. Furthermore, she is committed to assisting students in cultivating the essential skills for crafting resumes and excelling in interviews.

HirePhD Team Members

Dr. Tim Xue
Finance Manager
PhD. in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Tim Xue is currently a Research & Innovation Manager at Genome British Columbia, a non-profit funding organization that promotes research and innovation. Before this, Tim was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia where he was investigating how bacterial infection can lead to neurological disabilities. 
​

​Dr. Qurrat Ul Ain

​News Editor
PhD. in Bioengineering

Qurrat Ul Ain is a dedicated Science Communicator specializing in life sciences writing, consultation, and the creation of illustrations. With a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Hanyang University, South Korea, and a PharmD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan, and brings a diverse educational background to her expertise. Following her doctoral studies, Ain pursued a Postdoctoral fellowship in Nanomedicine at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Additionally, Ain has completed studies in Web and Digital Media Creative Writing at UBC, showcasing her commitment to interdisciplinary learning. Currently, she is immersed in the "Biomedical Visualization and Communication" program at the same university, further expanding her knowledge and skills in the field.
​
Passionate about science communication, education, and personal and professional development, Ain actively contributes to the field. Her involvement with HirePhD reflects her dedication to informing and raising awareness about career opportunities beyond academia for individuals with graduate degrees. Through HirePhD, Ain aims to assist fellow graduate degree holders in navigating diverse career paths, making the transition from academia to non-academic careers, and fostering a supportive community for mutual connection and growth.

Board of Directors

Ambassadors

Dr. Ryan Collins
STAY CONNECTED